Before and after the balloons take to the skies over Middletown during the Ohio Challenge Hot Air Balloon Festival, there will be much to do for all ages at the July 23, 24 and 25 event. Visitors to the Smith Park site in downtown Middletown will see not only twice daily hot air balloon flights featuring the huge Oggy the Dragon balloon representing primary sponsor Mid-First Credit Union and a huge soccer ball representing Butler Tech, weather permitting, but there will also be balloon glows after dark on Friday and Saturday nights, and music by the best of regional performers.

P Ann Everson-Price will take the Ohio Challenge stage on Friday night. The two-time Grammy Award  winner presents jazz, r&b, gospel and blues. A complete entertainer, she also finds time to serve as Vocal Coach and Director for the Youth Chorale of the Arts Consortium of Cincinnati. As the Director, she mentors over 50 children between the ages of 5 and 16 years old.

The Bentwood Rockers will perform on the outdoor stage after the balloon launch on Saturday evening. Enjoy the four piece classic rock band as they play the old favorites such as “Under the Boardwalk” and “Your Mama Don’t Dance.”

Gem City Squares will perform traditional square dance routines. Middletown Dog Training Club members will put their animals through a variety of tricks and skill courses and the Middletown Police K-9 units will show how they help their human police partners in catching criminals.

Skydivers will drop into the Ohio Challenge grounds several times during the three-day event.  Team Fastrax, sponsored by Selection.com, are “four dudes with altitude.”

Spectators can learn a bit about the game of Rugby at 1 p.m. on Saturday as the  MidValley team takes on the West Side Outkasts in the gentlemanly but rough game of Rugby.

Take I-75, exit 32 and follow the signs to the site near Hook Field airport.  There will also be arts and crafts, the best of local festival foods, a children’s carnival, authentic Indian drum circle and dancing, and a family balloon discovery center. Admission to the festival site is free. Parking is $5 per vehicle. Grounds are open for the early morning flights with limited morning food service and free parking. Festival hours, with vendors and entertainment, are Friday 4 to 10:30 pm, Saturday Noon to 10:30 pm and Sunday, Noon to 7 pm.

For more information, call 513-571-2290 or visit www.ohiochallenge.com

Complete entertainment schedule:

All flights and many outdoor events are weather dependent. Times of specific performances and events may vary from schedule. Balloon launch times may be delayed as pilots wait for slower wind speeds.  Balloons fly only in the early morning and early evening hours – just after sunrise and just before sunset when the winds are lightest.  Specialty balloons (Oggy the Dragon and the Soccer Ball) are particularly susceptible to high winds and may not be able to fly even when other balloons are in the air.

                                                                                             
Throughout the weekend:
                        Indian Village Display
                        Kids Activities – Balloon Discover Center
                        Arts & Crafts Booths
                        Murray Brothers Carnival
                        Waldo Wrights Flying Service – Hook field
                        Festival Foods

Friday
4:00 -10:30 pm       Park open
6:00.                     Skydivers – Team Fastrax
                             Opening Ceremony – 
                             National Anthem – Shaudrell Foshee 
                             Presentation of Colors – Middletown Police and American Legion Post 218 
                             Ceremony - Native American Indians
6:30                       Balloon Launch – from festival site (Oggy the Dragon and Soccer Ball)
7:30                       P. Ann Everson-Price Band
8:00                       Skydivers – Team Fastrax
9:00                       Balloon Glow
After Glow              Music by Gregg Clark and Scotty Bratcher at the Manchester Inn
 
Saturday
6:30 am                 Balloon Launch – fly into festival site 
                             (gates open/no vendors)
Noon-10:30 pm       Park open
Various Times        Middletown Dog Training Club Demo
1:00                       Rugby Games - MidValley vs West Side Outkasts
1:00-4:00                Cold air inflated balloon walk-in
1:30                       Gem City Squares – Square Dancers
3:00                       City of Middletown K-9 Unit Demonstration
3:00                       Storytime & Puppet Show by Middletown Public Library – 
                             Balloon Discovery Center
6:00                       Skydivers – Team Fastrax
6:30                       Balloon Launch from Festival Site  (Oggy the Dragon and Soccer Ball)
7:30                       Bentwood Rockers Band
8:00                       Skydivers – Team Fastrax
9:00                       Balloon Glow

Sunday
6:30 am                  Balloon Launch – fly into festival site
                              (gates open/no vendors)
Noon 7:00 pm         Park open
Various                  Middletown Dog Training Club Demo
6:00                       Skydivers – Team Fastrax
6:30                       Balloon Launch from Smith Park (Oggy the Dragon and Soccer Ball)

Gold Sponsors:     Bank One/Barnitz Fund
                           910 WPFB/The Rebel 105.9
                           www.SELECTION.com

Silver Sponsors:   Dillman Foods
                           The Manchester Inn & Conference Center

Bronze Sponsor:   US Bank

Specialty Balloon Sponsors:        
Butler Tech, MidFirst Credit Union

Skydivers:         www.teamfaxtrax.org

Official Information Source:The Middletown Journal

Hosted by: The Chamber of Commerce – serving Middletown, Monroe & Trenton
                                     1500 Central Avenue, Middletown, OH 45044